Fob atjto lig-htiwg-circtjit



J. F. SCHREIBEH.

TIMING SWITCH F08 AUTO LIGHTING CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION man IULY10,|9I9.

1,385,954. A Patented July 26, 1921.

Quwznkw 69M M W M Quezon UNITED STATES J'OH'N F. SGHRETBER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

TIMING-SWITCH FOR AUTO LIGHTING-CIRCUIT.

Application filed July 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. Sormnmnu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Timing-Switches for Auto Lighting-Circuits, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to improvements 1n timing switches for the lighting systems of motor driven vehicles.

' The object of my invention is primarily to provide means whereby the 'user of a motor driven vehicle may utilize a main switch to connect. up his lighting circuits preparatory to leaving the machine, and

also whereby he may thenutilize another switch to break the lighting circuit, and partially connect up a c'ontrollin circuitlto be subsequently automatically c osed -momentarily by an ordinary time piece. This, with minimum expense, 'may be utilized in connection' with an electro-ma et to connect up the main circuit'throug jthe' lam s at the proper time, andcut out the aux liary circuit thro h the time piece and electromagnet, the time piece being freetoperform its ordinary functions as' a time piece, and being electrically disconnected at all times, except during t e short interval following the closing of the auxiliary circuit, and pending the operation of the electro-magnet in connecting up the main circuit.

In the drawi Figure 1 is a ragmentary view in front elevation of a portion of an automobile dash-board or switch plate, to which my invention has been applied, showi the arrangement of the main switch, the tlme piece and the auxiliary switch with reference to the dash lamp.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electro-magnetic mechanism showing conventionally a time piece, one of the lamps, main switch and battery, and also illustrating the circuits, the time piece casing, and electro-magnet casing being shown in section.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

In Fig. 1, the dash lam 1' and main switch 2 may be assumed to be of any ordinary construction. An ordinary time piece or clock 3 is mounted in a cylindrical casing 4, which is secured to the dash 5. To adapt the clock for my purposes I merely Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jul 26, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 309,862.

attach to the hour hand 7 a flexible arm 8 the clock being otherwise unchanged.

But I provide the casing 4 with a cover 4' having a transparent face plate or glass disk 9 centrally apertured to receive a metallic button shaped member .11 which performs the function of a binding post, this member bemg connected with a leading-in conductor 12, and with a terminal armor electrode 13, having an elbowed extremity 14 in the path of the flexible contact finger 8, carried by the hour hand of the time piece.

Contact finger 8 may be as light and flexible as a hair spring, and in fact I have used a portion of a hair spring v'c'ry successfully for that purpose. The leading-in conductor 12 is adjustedin pressure contact with a' terminal 15 of the auxiliary circuit, which may be connected up in part by an auxiliary push button, and in part bvtho clock, as'follows, to-wit rfromthe battery 20 through contact 15, conductor 12, arm 13, elbow 14, flexible contact finger 8, hour hand 7, the clock mechanism, conductor 21, the windings 22 of the electro magnet, conductors 23 and 24, fixed terminal 25, resili ent terminal or switch arm 26, and conductor 27 to battery 20. i i v The resilient switch arm 26 isheld to terminal 25 when push button 15 is moved inwardly, and the push button is locked in such position by a trip latch havingan arm 29 which engages a head 30 on the inner end of the push button. The armature 33 of the electro-magnet is providedwithan elbowed extension 34, adapted to engagethe arm 35 of the trip latch when the magnet is energized. thereby releasing the latch from the push button. The latter is then retracted by the recoil of its spring 36. Therefore, as soon as the magnet is energized by the action of the hour hand of the clock in closing the auxiliary circuit, the resulting move ment of the armature. 33 releases the push button 16, and allows resilient switch arm 26 to retract and break the circuit through the clock and magnet.

But it will be observed that the switch arm 26 is then included in the main or light ing circuit, for, when retracted, it automatt cally moves to contact electrode 40 by its own resiliency. This is connected with the main switch 2 by conductor 41. The main circuit is dependent merely upon push button 2 being in circuit closing position, and upon arm 26 being on contact 40.

The terminal arm or electrode l3 is adjustably connected with the member 11, lJr in rotatable about the center of the monr her 11, and preferably having a disk shaped extremity in contact with the member 11 at all points of adjustment. 'llicrcl'ore. it is obvious that if the arm 13 is adjusted in registry with any given mark upon the dial the auxiliary circuit will be connected up, and the lights turned on when the hour hand reaches that point if the switch 2 has been actuated to connect up the main circuit with the lamps. Therefore, the .user will be able to leave his machine at any time during the day, and ma. rely .upon the lights being turned on w on dankness approaches, by merely operating his main switch .2 in a manner .to turn on the lights, and then pushing button 16 inwardly until the latch arm 29 engages the inner ead 30 of the push button arm 13 heing set toindicate-the hour or fraction thereof at which the auxiliary circuit will he closed by .the contact finger 8. This will be accomplished without material loss o'f'electrical energy in the switch mechanism, for the auxiliary circuit is only closed momentarily, and during this momentary period the lighting circuit will be almost simultanconsl closed. The current which passes throu the clock mechanism will, do no damage, lthough .it is, of course, possible to avoid ,passi the=currentthrough any other portion of t e .clock, except (the hour hand, by electrically connecting conductor 21 thereto, independently of the clock casing.

I attach considerable importance to the fact that the adjustable contact arm or terminal 13, and the leading-in conductor 14 with associated arts, are mounted upon the cap or cone: which has a transparent disk through which the clock may be viewed, but which forms no art of the clock mecha nism, and is nota ected by the operation of the clock mechanism, except during the short interval .of contact finger 8, and it is only during a portion of this interval that the circuit thru '11 the magnet is closed.

The object of merely adjusting the conductor 12 in pressure contact with the electrode 15. as dist hed irom other means of connectiomis toenahle the user to remove the time piece more vreadily. Ordinarily the time pieces used for these purposes will have inding stems. at the rears'ide.

I claun:--

l- A timing switch mechanism for vehi- C168, including the combination with a lighting circuit, and a source ofelectriealcurrent, of a main switch, an auxiliary manually and automaticall operable switch to open and close the lig ting circuit, anautomatically retracting auxiliary switch, an electromagnetic trip mechanism for temporarily holding the auxiliary switch in circuit icl0sing position, and n time piiu'gprin ided uilh a movable member. adapted to close it vircuit through the electrounugnet ill a predetermined time, said auxiliary switch when retracted. being adapted to connect up the lighting circuit ini'lepr-ndcntly of the electromagnetic lli(('ll{llll$lli.

2..A timing switch mechanism for a hiclc lighting circuit, including the combination with such lighting circuit and a source of electrical current, of a main switch for making and breaking said circuit, an auxiliary circuit provided with switch mechanism, also controlling the main circuit. an electro-magnet or operating the switch mechanism, and a time piece pro ridcd with a circuit closer, upon which the auxiliary circuit depends. said auxiliary switch mechanism'being adapted, when the electro-magnet is energized, to automatically break the auxiliary circuit and close the main circuit.

3. A time controlled circuit closing mechanism for lighting circuits including the combination of a time piece, provided with a circuit closing contact arm, ,a cover for the time piece provided with an adjustable contact terminal in the path of said arm, and having a transparent portion through which the dial of the time piece may be viewed, :a push button electrically connecting said terminal and said mechanism, an electro-magnetic mechanism, said mechanism adapted to electro-magneticall-y close a lighting circuit when said arm and terminal are in contact.

l. In .a timing switch mechanism for lighting circuits, the combination with a .time piece provided with a rotary contact arm, a transparent cover for .the time piece u'orided with a lrotatisvely adjustable terminal. having one portion in the path of said a rm when said contact arm and itermi nal are in engagement, and electrically op unrated mechanism controlled by said contact arm and terminal for connecting up the lighting circuit, said li htin-g circuit hav .ing a shunt which includes said contact anm and terminal, and said electrically operated mechanism.

5. In a .timing switch mechanism for lighting circuits, the combination with a time piece provided with a rotary contact arm, aiti-ansparentcovcr for the time piece provided with a rotatively adjustable terminal, having one portion in the path of said arm when said contact arm and termi' nal arc in engagemcntgand electrically 0pcrated mechanism controlled by said coir tact-a rm and terminal forcoiinecting up the Lighting circuit, said lighting circuit having .a shunt, which includes said contact arm and terminal and said electrically operated mechanism, said electrically operating mechanism being adapted to break the shunt circuit while connecting up said lighting circuit.

6. A timing switch mechanism, compris ing the combination with a main lighting circuit having a manually operable switch, and a shunt circuit, including an electiomagnet, of a movable switch arm adapted to alternatively connect up the main circuit in one position and the shunt circuit in another position, a manually adjustable trip adapted to temporarily retain said arm in posltion for closing said shunt circuit, an armature adapted to be actuated by said electro-magnet to release the trip, and allow said arm to open the shunt circuit, and close said main circuit, and timinw mechanism having a movable member adapted to complete the shunt circuit at predetermined periods when said arm is held by the trip in a position to connect up such circuit.

A timing lighting system comprising the combinatlon of a main lighting circuit having a manually operable switch for controlling said circuit; a shunt circuit independent of said manually operable switch; an electromagnet in said shunt circuit; a resilient switch arm adapted in one position to alternately complete said main circuit when said manually operable switch is closed, and adapted in another position to partially complete said shunt circuit; a spring pressed plunger adapted to be manually operated to cause said resilient arm to partially complete said shunt circuit; an armature actuated by said clectromagnet to release said plunger and allow said resilient arm to open said shunt circuit and complete said main circuit, and timing mechanism for completing said shunt circuit at predetermined times.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. SCHREIBER. Witnesses:

O. WEBER A. J. MCKERIHAN. 

